The fine art of Hospitality in South TyrolStefan Pramstrahler: the Renaissance Man of Romantik HotelsBy Madelyn Miller, the TravelLady
Stefan loves entertaining people by stimulating all their senses. You hear classical music. You smell delightful aromas from the kitchen, sensual fragrances from the spa, and fresh scents from the many flowers. Everywhere you walk you see an exceptionally diverse but well-edited collection of art, including an original Picasso and Klimt.
There is a certain kind of guest who loves being a part of this environment. And they return again and again. As I hope to. I met a couple from Munich ,Germany who had come last year for a few days, continued on to the rest of their vacation, and then came back for the last few days of their trip because they had enjoyed it so much. They were here again this year, and had decided to stay longer than planned because they were having such a delightful time.
The admirable thing is how well he has passed this desire for gracious perfectionism on to his staff. Each dish is perfectly plated. Each waiter seems to know and remember your favorite wines, if you prefer still or sparkling water, and notes which dishes you seemed to enjoy most.
If Stefan could write a computer program to do all this, he could be a zillionaire. But I think he is happiest doing exactly what he is doing. The hotel business is clearly in his blood. His family started him in the kitchen at age 14. When he was growing up, he wanted to be a goldsmith. Every time I saw a gorgeously garnished plate I thought of his early childhood dream and imagined the kind of jewelry he might have designed.
I probably could not have afforded his jewelry, but everyone agrees his inspired cuisine is a good value. I found myself taking pictures of each dish, not just for this article, but because I personally wanted to remember and savor the flavors and presentation.
This classy hotel is in the breathtaking location of Turm, so you dine amidst the mountains, on breezy patios gazing at the views between delicious courses.
Between meals, you can browse at the art. The hotel is already a mini-gallery, with art decorating the hotel walls--there is a Picasso, there are drawings by Gustav Klimt, currently there is also a golden coin (quite big) by Salvador Dalí, and also Paul Klee, Giorgio De Chirico and Oskar Kokoschka . Stefan is planning to focus even more on art, starting a kind of gallery in the hotel. Every month a different artist will be displaying his or her works in the hotel. The first one opens in June and it will be called Bhuddas. It will be photographs displaying bhuddas by Antonella Maggio. The other remarkable thing about Romantik Hotel Turm is the spa. But that is another story. http://www.travellady.com/Issues/June05/1472EveryonewasNaked.htm Romantik Hotel Turm BEST WAY TO GET TO ITALY BEST WAY TO GET AROUND IN ITALY GREAT GUIDEBOOKS more about Gelato from Travellady’s experts GREAT SLEEPS ITALY GREAT EATS ITALY Diffordsguide to City Drinking #0.1 Italy: INSTRUCTIONS FOR USE* Fodor’s see it Italy THE COMPLETE IDOIT’S GUIDE to ITALIAN HISTORY AND CULTURE ITALY FODOR’S 04 ITALY Rick Steves Italy 2005 BERLITZ POCKET GUIDE ITALY SPEAK LIKE AN ITALIAN Traveling to Italy for business or pleasure can be a fun and exciting adventure, but for those who don't know the language it can also be a frustrating one. The Pocket Idiot's Guide to Italian Phrases, 2nd Edition is a must-have for travelers. This completely revised and updated edition contains more phrases than ever and includes extensive word lists and verb charts. The book has new grammar and punctuation sections that make it easier for readers to use more effectively, useful tips about Italian culture and dialects and also contains a map of Italy. THE COMPLETE IDIOT’S GUIDE TO LEARNING ITALIAN THE POCKET IDIOT’S GUIDE to Italian Rick Steve’s ITALIAN PHRASEBOOK AND DICTIONARY BERLITZ Surviving in Italian BERLITZ Shopping in Italian EAT LIKE AN ITALIAN BERLITZ Eating and Drinking in Italian How to Pronounce French, German and Italian Wine Names LANGENSCHEIDT’S POCKET MENU READER ITALY EUROPE’S TOP RESTAURANTS 2004 SHOP LIKE AN ITALIAN COOK LIKE AN ITALIAN THE BEST OF GOURMET MANGIAMO Let’s Eat! DRINK LIKE AN ITALIAN TASTE ITALIAN FOOD AT HOME LISTEN TO ITALIAN MUSIC MOST SOCIALLY CORRECT SOUVENIR Madelyn’s favorite Italian wines ITALIAN LITERATURE TO GET YOU IN THE MOOD PALLADIAN DAYS VENETIAN STORIES The thoroughly engaging characters who are the focus of these stories are from different backgrounds and various Venetian neighborhoods, but their lives—and the stories—overlap and intersect in surprising and playful ways. CASA ROSA A mesmerizing story of three generations of a twentieth-century Italian family who lived in a farmous in Puglia. JOHN PAUL II BEHIND LOCKED DOORS The author is a former president of the American Catholic Historical Association and takes readers behind the scenes and offers an insider’s view on the highly secretive Papal Conclave. DANCES WITH LUIGI UNDER THE SOUTHERN SUN VENICE AGAINST THE SEA |
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Stefan Pramstrahler is a host par excellence. And every night, his “home” and drawing room is filled with happy friends enjoying the creative cuisine, artistic ambiance and sensual spa. 
The attention is so personal; it hardly seems like a hotel. But that is because it is such a very good hotel—the Romantik Hotel Turm.
Because I was lucky enough to meet Stefan’s girlfriend Cat, I got some insider background on this talented man. Granted, she loves him, so she may not be totally objective. But it seems everyone loves Stefan, from his proudly attentive staff to his grateful guests. Stefan isn’t just the owner, general manager, and chef—he also designed the new spa and created the treatments, authored a cookbook, competes in hang-gliding competitions and won the fastest Italian speed title. Just off the bar is his trophy for winning a horse competition title three times (after three wins you get to keep the trophy). The only thing I wondered is if this man ever sleeps? He must, because he is so energetic and seems to remember exactly what each guest likes best.
